Music by Peter Allen. Book by Nick Enright. Leading Note Theatre, Ballarat (Vic). Director: Stephen O’Neil. Musical Director: Ian Goven. Choreographer: Vanessa Sheehan. Wendouree Performing Arts Centre. July 8 - 16, 2011.
“Never perform with children or animals” is the old adage. Matthew Hustwaite, the 22 year old Producer, obviously has never heard of that.
For his first production for his newly-formed company, Leading Note Theatre, he crammed 50 members of the local choir, dozens of local dancers, and a camel onto the stage. All were beautifully groomed, choreographed and refrained from spitting.
They won me over by giving me a camel ride – backstage (I am the agent for The Boy From Oz so I get VIP treatment).